Shirt construction



May 8, c b N SHIRT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

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BY A 4724 HTTURNE Y Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIRT CONSTRUCTION Chet W. Young, Woodland, Calif.

Application May 12, 1949, Serial No. 92,850

4 Claims. (01. 2115) The present invention relates to a shirt, and more particularly to novel shirt construction which permits a necktie to be merely looped or folded over and suspended in the place of the usual knot of a four-in-hand tie which it simulates.

The conventional shirt worn by men opens at the front and may either have a removable collar or an attached collar. In either case where it is worn with a four-in-hand tie, the tie is vplaced under the collar and, tied in a knot which is pulled up into position between the ends of the collar. In order to stay in position, it is necessary to pull the loop around the neck fairly tight so that the collar snugly embraces the neck. This is particularly uncomfortable in summertime but since it is fashionable to wear a necktie among white collar workers, most of them dress in this way regardless of comfort.

The present invention has as an object a shirt construction which avoids the necessity for the neck loop of a tie :but which makes it possible to wear a tie which simulates the appearance of a four-in-hand tie. Another object is to provide a shirt in which the collar may be fastened in various positions of adjustment and still have the necktie retain its proper position without, passing around the neck. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a shirt and tie assembled in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken vertically through the median line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a shirt front in open position to show the structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing the collar in two different positions of adjustment;

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1-4 of Fig. 6 with the tie removed;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line 88 of Fig. l with the tie removed;

Fig. 9 is a section through the ends of the neckband of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a similar section through the neckband of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly Fig. 1, reference character I represents the front of a conventional shirt which opens at the front and which is provided with two straps 3 and 5. Strap 3 is entirely hidden from view by a necktie I which, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2, is merely folded double and suspended from strap 3. Strap 5 is spaced from strap 3 a distance corresponding to the length of an ordinary knot of a fourin-hand tie and it overlies both folds of the necktie. When made from the same material as the shirt front, it is not-particularly noticeable and if its length is such as to crimp the tie as shown in Fig. 1, the appearance of the assemblage from the front simulates the conventional shirt'and four-in-hand tie. Strap 5, however, may be longer as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 where the tie is not crimped, yet it still gives the general effect of a knot in appearance. 7

The details of the construction of the-shirt, apart from the straps and the means for securing them to the shirt, forms no part of the present invention and it is to be understood that the invention can be used on existing shirts or on shirts specially made to incorporate it. In any case the collar, whether it be attached or removable, will include a neck 'band 9, the collar proper which is indicated at H and means for fastening the ends of the neck band together. It will be seen that the strap 5 is'in the vicinity of the lower portions of the ends of the collar.

The strap 3 is shown in Fig. 4 secured at one of its ends to the neckband 9 near one end thereof, e. g., by stitching it thereto, so that the upper edge of the strap is approximately contiguous with the upper edge of the neckband. Means are provided for fastening the other end of straps 3 removably to the other end of the neckband.

In the form of Fig. 4 the removable fastening means comprises a buttonhole I 3 near the end of the strap 3 and one or more buttons [5 on said other end of the neckband.

In the form of Fig. 3 the removable fastening means comprises a hook I! sewed or otherwise secured to the strap 3a, and one or more slits in said other end of the neckband through which the hook may engage, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 9, the slits being marked l8.

The conventional fastening means, whether sewed on button or removable collar button, may be used or not as desired, such a button l9 being shown in Fig. 4 and omitted in Fig. 3.

An advantage of a plurality of buttons I5 or slits I8 is that the length of the collar can be varied for comfort and to impart a different appearance to the shirt. Thus in Fig. 5 the strap is secured to the most remote means, which pulls the ends of the collar close together. In Fig. l the strap is engaged in the center means while in Fig. 6 it engages the closest means and spaces the ends of the collar II quite a distance apart. It will be apparent that a similar effect can be obtained by using a single button l5 and a plurality of button holes l3 in the strap 3, and such construction is contemplated by the invention.

The strap 5, shown in Figs. 4 and 8, is secured at one end to the shirt, e. g., by stitching, and the other end is removably fastened by means of a button hole 2| in the strap and a button 23 on the shirt. In this form of the invention the strap and button are sewed to the usual boxpleat 25 and the free end is looped around so that the button 23 is hidden by the strap.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and '7 one end of strap 5a is sewed to the shirt I at one side thereof, preferably with the aid of a.

strengthening reinforcement 21 on the underside thereof, and the button is sewed to the other side of the shirt as shown at 23a with a similar reinforcement 29.

The strap 5 or 50. is preferably made of the same material as the shirt front and has the necessary hems, binding, or the like to give it strength and prevent fraying. Strap 3 or 3a may also be made of the same material but it is referably stiffened somewhat so as to resist sagging under the weight of the necktie.

In assembling the tie and shirt, the wearer puts the shirt on as usual leaving both straps unfastened. The tie is then folded at the desired place over strap 3 or 3a which is then fastened to the neckband by the button IE or hook I1, respectively. The free end of strap 5 or 511 can then be brought over both folds of the necktie and fastened to its respective button.

The present invention can be applied to a shirt at very small cost and in any of the embodiments described with such modifications and variations of the structure as come within the scope of the following claims:

1. In a shirt which opens at the front and has a neckband and collar, means to support a loosely folded necktie at the neckband between the ends of the collar, and a strap carried by the shirt and disposed below said means and in the vicinity of the lower portion of said ends of the collar, said strap being adapted to overlie the folds of said necktie whereby a necktie supported by said means and underlying said strap has its surface broken by said strap at a point corresponding substantially to the lower end of a knot of a fourin-hand tie.

2. In a shirt which opens at the front and has a neckband and collar, means removably securing a first strap to the neckband across the opening between the ends of the collar adjacent to the collar fold, said strap being adapted to suspend a necktie loosely folded thereover, and a second strap secured to said shirt below said first strap and in the vicinity of the lower portions of said ends of the collar to form with the shirt a loop through which the folded necktie can pass, said loop having less length than the width of the tie whereby it is gathered to simulate a four-inhand knot in appearance.

3. In a shirt which opens at the front and has a neckband and collar, a strap secured at one end to the neckband near one end thereof and means for removably fastening the other end of said strap to the other end of said neckband, said strap in fastened position extending at least across the opening between the ends of said collar whereby a necktie may be loosely folded over said strap and suspended therefrom, a second strap secured at one end to the shirt in the vicinity of the lower portion of one of the ends of said collar, and means for removably fastening the other end of said second strap to said shirt in the vicinity of the lower portion of the other end of said collar, whereby said second strap is adapted to be fastened over both folds of said necktie and thereby break the surface of said necktie at a point substantially corresponding to the lower end of the knot of a four-in-hand tie.

4. In a shirt as set forth in claim 3, said second strap being of such length that when fastened over the folds of the necktie a crimp is formed therein.

CHET W. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 946,275 Ruebe Jan. 11, 1910 2,079,980 Anders May 11, 1937 2,223,176 Jokob Nov. 26, 1940 

